Frank Grillo cast in "The Purge" sequel

The 48-year-old actor is set to take on a lead role in the horror film which is being directed James DeMonaco - who worked on the original - and produced by Blumhouse who officially welcomed him to the cast.

Grillo has had a number of smaller roles in films including 2012's 'Zero Dark Thirty' where he was the Red Squadron Commanding Officer, 'End of Watch' where he starred as Sarge, and is set to be 2014's 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'.

'The Purge' exceeded expectations when it made more than $89 million in the box office surpassing its $3 million budget.

The original film is set in the year 2022 in the US and during a 12-hour period, which is known as The Purge, people are allowed to legally partake in criminal activity, including murder, theft, and rape.

During this time select government officials must remain unharmed and certain weapons are not permitted to be used.

Ethan Hawke - who played wealthy home security salesman James Sandin - fronts the film which ends with a radio broadcast that announces The Purge was successful due to the record high number of murders that were committed and shall be held again next year.